Marketing Department Advisory Board

Robert S. Cooley, Jr. has over combined 25 years of global strategy, operations and small business experience. He currently is the owner of Apple Annie’s Bake Shop with two locations here in Wilmington, North Carolina and co-owner of The Wine Sampler, also in Wilmington, North Carolina. Apple Annie’s Bake Shop is proudly celebrating its 30th Anniversary serving and partnering with the local Wilmington community. Cooley received his bachelor’s degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point, his Masters in Business Administration from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Masters in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College in Carlisle, PA. He has successfully led large and small entrepreneurial business globally, emphasizing sustainable growth and high performing team development. Previous international employers include Deloitte Consulting and Philips Medical Systems.

He continues to serve our nation and community as a COLONEL in the US Army Reserves, headquartered at Fort Totten, Queens, NY and is a veteran of both the Iraq and Afghanistan Campaigns. He also serves as Vice-chairman of the USS North Carolina Battleship Commission. He supports the University of North Carolina Wilmington Marketing Advisory Council assisting local UNCW students in development, growth and mentorship opportunities.

Steve Janz, VP International Sales & Business Development is in his twelfth year with FSI and has over twenty years’ experience in the sales and marketing of products for the research, development and process areas primarily within the chemical and pharmaceutical industry. He is a member of the Advisory Committee for Biotechnology in Southeastern North Carolina, the North Carolina District Export Council, the American Industrial Hygiene Association, the American Chemical Society (ACS), the American Glove-Box Society (AGS), and the International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineers (ISPE). Interactions with UNCW include 5 MBA Learning Alliance memberships and several attendances at Business Week.

Martha Harlan is the director of marketing and public relations for New Hanover Regional Medical Center (NHRMC). She was recruited to join NHRMC in 2008. Martha is responsible for the marketing, public relations, sponsorships, outreach, physician relations and corporate communications for New Hanover Regional Medical Center, NHRMC Physician Group and all affiliated health system entities.

Martha and her husband, Steve, own and operate their own fine art business, Harlan Editions. Steve’s art work is currently represented by galleries across the United States and Europe. Martha oversees the business management of Harlan Editions including gallery contracts, inventory, marketing and legal affairs.

Martha grew up in the Hollywood/Fort Lauderdale, Florida area. She attended Broward Community College, where she earned her associate’s degree and licensure as a registered nurse. Martha also has a bachelor’s degree in Management and Marketing from University of Maryland University College and has taken extensive classes towards her master’s in Management and Marketing.

Martha practiced nursing for many years, while at the same time meeting her desire to travel by working as an airline flight attendant. In addition, Martha enjoyed many freelance promotional opportunities with RCA and Sony Broadcast, this promotional work led to a creative position in Los Angeles, California, where she gained ten years of experience in marketing, public relations, film, communications and strategic planning. She served a diverse group of clients including Disney Channel and was fortunate to work with the Disney Imagineering team on the promotion of Epcot. Her clients included Disney, Warner Brothers, Columbia Pictures, Ashton-Tate, GTEL, American Pharmaseal, Association of Critical Care Nurses, as well as numerous advertising agencies, communication, aerospace and technology organizations.

After ten years in California, Martha returned to the East Coast and once again entered the healthcare field. She worked as a nurse manager in several Maryland-based hospitals and also in home health. Martha was quickly recruited back into the marketing and business arena in publishing with the Nursing Spectrum, followed by a leadership role in an advertising agency.

Martha served as the Executive Director of Marketing, Public Relations and Corporate Communication for Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) a Maryland-based healthcare system for nine years prior to coming to Wilmington, North Carolina During her tenure at AAMC, Martha and her team were recognized by industry experts with more than 70 awards for numerous advertising, marketing and communication programs, including the Vicki Rosen Best in Show at the Alfred Knight Awards.

Elizabeth Kuronen joined PPD in 2009 bringing a wealth of expertise in the areas of corporate communications, public relations, integrated marketing, broadcast and film production, corporate branding and advertising.

At PPD, she is a member of the CEO’s senior leadership team and manages a team of communications, branding and public affairs professionals responsible for communications and outreach to the company’s key audiences. These audiences include clients, employees, media, investors, government agencies and community affairs groups.

Prior to joining PPD, Kuronen led communications and public relations for GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy in Wilmington, N.C. This role focused on positioning GE as a credible and trusted company leading the way in global nuclear energy. She managed a team responsible for media strategy, global government relations, trade-show marketing and employee communications for GE’s energy business.

Kuronen previously served as a director in the marketing and communications organization at Bristol Myers Squibb where she led the in-house design and production agency called BMS Films. Her team was key in the development, creation and execution of multiple corporate and therapeutic marketing campaigns as well as internal employee initiatives.

Kuronen’s experience in television broadcast and film production includes work for such companies as NBC, CBS, QVC and De Laurentiis Entertainment. As a TV/Film director/producer, she has earned five Telly Awards and seven prestigious Aurora Awards.

Kuronen earned a bachelor’s degree in communications and public relations from Campbell University (1990) and attended North Carolina State University to further her studies in journalism.

Active in the Wilmington business and civic community, Kuronen currently serves on the board of directors for DREAMS for Youth and the Cucalorus Film Festival, and is a past member of the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce board of directors. She also serves on the UNCW Cameron School of Business Marketing Advisory Council.

Matthew is a connector, ex-rocker, and avid Catan player currently working as the SAS Principal Product Marketing Manager for Data Management. At SAS, he drives global awareness, positioning and messaging for the SAS Data Management and Big Data portfolio including whitepaper and blog creation, product launch management, and analyst interactions.

Previously, Matthew has held positions in sales, sales enablement, consulting, solution architecture and software development.He has taught entrepreneurship in prison, taught marketing and website development in college, and spoken at conferences on topics such as Data Governance, Big Data Analytics, Data Preparation, Business Travel Tips and Real Estate Social Selling.

Mr. Magne received his BS, cum laude, in Computer Engineering at Boston University, has done graduate work in Object Oriented Development and completed his MBA at UNCW.